Kayak Adventure of Shell Key Preserve & Island with a Local
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
St Petersburg, USA
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Paddle through mangrove tunnels, spot dolphins and manatees, and enjoy free time for a swim or shell collecting on Shell Key Island with this unique Shell Key Preserve kayak excursion, led by a local insider. Paddle through shallow saltwater to discover top kayaking spots rich with native Floridian wildlife, and marvel at the area’s natural beauty. Plus, learn about its history and ecosystem along the way.
- Visit parts of Shell Key Preserve most tourists miss with a local guide
- Explore mangrove tunnels (tide permitting) from an immersive vantage point
- Snap photos of dolphins, manatees, and other wildlife as you paddle
- Stop on Shell Key Island to swim, relax, and spot unique shells
What's Included
- kayak, paddle, lifejacket (PFD), whistle or signalling device
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Pinellas Bayway SouthPinellas Bayway S, Florida 33715, USA
We launch from a public launch site off Pinellas Bayway in Tierra Verde. Directions & a map will be included with your reservation confirmation message.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Tierra Verde
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Tracy_M
Amazing experience. The guides were fantastic. Engaging and very knowledgeable Weather was just perfect for the few hours.
The group was mixed ability and we were all able to go at our own pace.
We saw dolphins, cormorants and other birds, a the mangroves were so pretty.
The time on shell key was lovely. You can walk around or just chill on the stunning beach and swim.
One of the best experiences I’ve done in a long time. Would do again and would 100% recommend.
Reviews
5.0
based on 182 reviews
Tracy_M, Mar 2026
Amazing experience. The guides were fantastic. Engaging and very knowledgeable Weather was just perfect for the few hours.
The group was mixed ability and we were all able to go at our own pace.
We saw dolphins, cormorants and other birds, a the mangroves were so pretty.
The time on shell key was lovely. You can walk around or just chill on the stunning beach and swim.
One of the best experiences I’ve done in a long time. Would do again and would 100% recommend.
Sarah_S, Aug 2024
I'm a fan of kayak tours and have done quite a few along the east coast, including through mangroves. Scott was easily the best tour guide I've ever had! Gave great easy to follow instructions for new kayakers, incredibly personable and friendly, immediately memorized the names of everyone on the group, and shared really interesting local history and facts on all of the animals, fish, plants, etc. that we saw throughout the trip. He was just extremely engaging and helpful. Karissa brought up the rear, making sure everyone was doing ok and no one left behind.
One of the coolest parts was the cormorant birds hanging with the group so they could dive for the fish we were stirring up by kayaking. We watched them catch so many fish!
Shell Key, as the name implies, is filthy with beautiful shells! I could have stayed there all day. Scott and Karissa had shell bags you could borrow, but we had brought our own plus snorkels, which was a good move.
Mel_A, Jun 2024
We had a great time with Scott & Karissa, owners of the Island Kayak Tours. They are really really nice people and will take care of everyone. They made sure all are safe while enjoying the kayaking and seeing all the wild animals. Scott has A LOT of energy and story to share. Our kids had a great time! and we loved exploring the area plus the white sandy Shell Beach. It was a wonderful morning and a perfect weather. Just be there 15-20 mins before the call time so you can prepare and hear the instructions. we HIGHLY recommend this and will love doing again if we will be in the area. Thank you very much especially to Ms. Karissa for all the help when we had hard time navigating our kayak with our kid. It was easy to do but we badly need team work :D
Jacqlene_R, Apr 2024
We truly enjoyed our day with Scott and Karissa. Very knowledgeable, friendly, and down-to-earth people. Scott gave great kayak pointers before we started our day to ensure a smooth experience. Gave interesting facts about the wildlife and environment of the mangroves. All in all worth the money and would definitely recommend it!!!
Brenda_B, Dec 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed the tour and would highly recommend it. Scott was a wealth of information and very passionate about the preserve. Beautiful scenery and relaxing environment. Will definitely return.
Tom_B, Nov 2021
Scott & Clarissa gave an amazing tour in and around the mangroves. Very knowledgeable and friendly tour guides. Thank you so much for our great trip, Tom & Yvette
From $58.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Kayak Adventure of Shell Key Preserve & Island with a Local
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